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OLIVIER METGALF, -OF SALEM,` INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 73,254, dated January 14, 1868. I

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I

Be it known that I,'OLIVER MnTCALF, of Salem, inthe county of Washingtomand State of Indiana, have invented a new and improved AnimalTrap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact: description' thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trap, with portions of it removed to expose the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken lvertically through the trap.

Figure is atop view of the trap.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to Acertain new and usefulrimprovements on animal-traps, which have springs applied 'to them, so that when wound up they will automatically set themselves as long as the springs continue to operate.

fIt consists in a number of revolving platforms applied to a revolving shaft, that is acted upon by a spring,

and 'provided with spring-latches, 'which are soarranged as to serve as baitholders,' saidshelves being arranged in a suitable box, having an apartment forgentrapping animals, and so appliedto their revolving shaft that they can be readily detached from it when it is desired to wind up the spring, as will be hereinafter described.'

To` enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.'

In the accompanying drawings, A. represents a boxhwhich is. laterally enlarged at one end, sopas to form the entrapping-chamber, and which is vertically enlargedl at the opposite end, so as to form a right-angular chamber, G, for receiving four revolving wings or platforms, C. These platforms are arranged at regular distances apart, around a horizontal transverse shaft, c, which has a hand-crank formed on one" end, and which vis secured to a scroll or clock-spring, E, at' the'other end. This spring E is applied within asmall box, E', onl

the 'outside'of the box A, and attached to shaft c in such manner that by turning this shaft in one direction the .spring can lbe wound up. The platforms are' all keyed to the shaft e by means of a rod, 7L, passing longitudinally throughl one of said platforms, and transversely through shaft c, n s indicated by dotted lines in g. l'. By withdrawing the key-rod h, the shaftc can'bel rotated independently of the platforms, and the spring E in this manner wound'up, after which rod tis inserted into its place, and shaft c locked to the platforms. Each platform is provided-with a'1atchingrod,f,' which is acted upon by a spring, g, enclosed in a shield,j`, and which projects slightly from the outer end of its-shelf, se as to engage with a catch, a, which is covered with rubber to prevent noise, and which is on the inside of a hinged-door, A', shown in iig. 2. The inner end of each rodf passes through' the next platform, and is turned up so as to form a. hook,f, upon which to secure thebait. By

slightly drawing back the rodf, which is engaged with catch a, the platforms will make one-quarter of a revolution, turning in the'gdirection indicated by the arrows in fig. 2. The entrappinggapartment D is divided from the apartment' G by Amoans of a wire curtain, b, which is hinged to and depends from eye-pieces 6. This cnrtain opens' into the apartment D, and allows an animal to enter this apartmentfrom the apartment G, but prea vents its return. Below the swinging apron b, and hinged to the bottom of the box A, is a platform, d, which is su'stained in an inclined position by means of a spring, "e, placed under it. This platform inclines towards the apartment D, and is depressedby the platform C, as they rotate, so that an animal which drops from one of the platforms C into the apartment G', below it, will be compelled to pass into the apartment D. This apart ment D isprovided with a hinged cover, B, tdwhich a ventilator, B', is applied, also with aside door, not shown in the drawings, forlremoving the animals one at a time. By'opening the door A', at the backofthe trap-box A, the platforms C may be turned by hand, and the spring E wound up without` detaching the shaft c from its platforms, as above mentioned. l

The trap isset by applying a. bait to each one of the four hooks f2, and winding up the spring E. The

l platforms will then assume the positions shown 'in figs. 1 and 2. If an animal should get'upon the horizontal exposed platform C, and draw back the rod f, which is held under the 'catch a, the platforms will make' one1 quarter of a revolution, and the animal will be precipitated into the apartment below, uponpthe .false iloor or platforms d, from which the animal will pass into the apartment lD, where it will -he entrapp'ed hy the hinged. apron b. The next platform will then be brought into the same position occupied by the 4last one mentioned, and the trap will he again set.

Having desbribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. The eombnatlon of a catch, a, upon a hinged door, A', with'the latch-rods f, upon the revolving platforms C, substantially as described.

2. The hinged platform d, held up by u. spring, g,and combined with the revolving platform C andnpron .5, substantially as described. A 3. Connecting the platform C to the spring-shaft c, by means ol'- a. removable key-rod, L, applied substantially s described. I

OLIVER.` METCALF.

Witnesses:

C. W. THOMAS, Y JAMES AB. A YREs. 

